Valve Basics Education Course Set for Kansas City, April 2-3

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Valve Manufacturers Association (VMA)'s next Valves, Actuators & Controls 101 course will take place April 2-3, 2014 at the Hilton Kansas City Airport in Kansas City, MO. Originally created for industry newcomers, the event has received such positive reviews it has become popular among a much larger group. The seminar brings together employees and supervisors of the plants that use valves, actuators and controls with distributors and sales reps who want to better understand the products they sell. Personnel from valve manufacturing companies are in the classroom with staff that specify and purchase valves and related equipment. They learn together with engineers in the early phase of their careers, as well as advanced-level mechanical engineering students (for whom scholarships are available).

The Valves, Actuators & Controls 101 course consists of lessons that guide attendees through the world of valves and the systems they help control, starting with the simplest types of valves and moving into the more complicated automated products, including actuators and controls. The two newest lessons cover solenoids and limit switches, and positioners and other actuator accessories.

The popular "Valve Petting Zoo" is a unique hands-on experience that enables participants to "touch and feel" examples of the many products discussed during the course. Attendees are led in small groups around to tables where valves, actuators and controls are displayed. At each station, an industry expert is on hand to answer specific questions about the products and further explain how they work.

Tabletop exhibits provide attendees with time between education sessions to learn what is offered by valve, actuator and control manufacturers, suppliers to the valve industry, and valve repair and service firms.

The cost is $665 for the first person from a company ($700 after Feb. 28) and $635 ($670 after Feb. 28) for each subsequent registration from the same company. Participants receive a certificate from VMA indicating they have earned 12 hours of continuing education. Breakfast, lunch, breaks and a reception, as well as a manual and CD, are also included.

The course will be repeated Oct. 30-31 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. VMA also offers Valve Basics Online Training, available on VMA.org in The VMA Store, a shorter course for those unable to attend the longer event.

For more information or to register, go to http://www.vma.org/?ValveBasics. Contact Abby Brown, VMA education & training coordinator ([email protected]), if you have additional questions.

ABOUT VMA: Founded in 1938, the Washington, DC-based Valve Manufacturers Association of America represents nearly 100 U.S. and Canadian manufacturers of valves, actuators and controls, which account for about 80% of total industrial valve shipments. VMA members' products are used in industries such as power generation, water & wastewater, oil & gas, chemical processing and refining, industrial and commercial HVAC systems, pulp & paper, mining and more. For more information, visit www.VMA.org.  VMA also publishes VALVE Magazine.

Contact: Abby Brown, ([email protected]), 240-328-3866

SOURCE Valve Manufacturers Association of America